Three essential questions when considering a new proton therapy center
March 13, 2017
Rad Oncology
Proton Therapy
From the March 2017 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine
By John Jessen
Proton therapy has significantly enhanced and extended our cancer fighting arsenal in the field of radiation oncology. New frontiers in particle therapy include hadron therapy, which relies on beams of charged particles (including protons) and heavier ions (including carbon) to improve cancer cure rates. Advancements in treatment from photon to proton to carbon therapy represent the new way forward in patient care and improving outcomes with far fewer side effects than conventional radiotherapy.
The particle therapy marketplace is projected to reach between $3.5 billion and $6.6 billion by 2030, with 1,200 to 1,800 particle therapy treatment rooms open to patients worldwide, showing an annual growth of 11 percent to 16 percent. However, our research indicates we have far too few proton therapy treatment rooms for current and projected growth. In the U.S., 80 proton therapy treatment rooms are in operation, with projected need estimated at more than 600.
It’s no surprise that many health care organizations are looking to add this highly sophisticated therapy to the radiation matrix. And it is a major decision for any medical center, academic hospital or developer. The time frame for this multi-million dollar investment, from initial planning through first patient treatment, can take five to eight years, or more.
Since working on my first center more than 15 years ago, I have been involved with planning and design of more than 50 proton and particle therapy centers across the globe. Drawing from this experience, I’ve learned that there are three questions that any owner/operator or developer must answer before we can begin to have a meaningful discussion about design, schedule and budget. They include:
• What is your case mix?
• What is your population/catchment area?
• What are your doctors’ preferences?
Simple, but not easy
The first question gets to the heart of the organization mission: Describe your current cancer clinical program. Is it strong or maturing? Is it a niche practice, or a broader treatment spectrum program? What types of tumors will your practice treat: prostate, breast, brain, base of skull, pediatric? And, more precisely, what is the mix of tumor types treated?
Most of the people we meet with are likely already seeing a sizeable number of radiation oncology patients. Indeed, larger centers may see as many as 2,000 to 3,000 cancer patients per year, treating many with conventional X-ray therapy. From this information, we can project the number of potential candidates, already in their care, who could be candidates for proton therapy. Consider that, in 2016, more than 1.6 million people in the U.S. received cancer treatment. And at least 120,000 were good candidates for proton therapy.
By John Jessen
Proton therapy has significantly enhanced and extended our cancer fighting arsenal in the field of radiation oncology. New frontiers in particle therapy include hadron therapy, which relies on beams of charged particles (including protons) and heavier ions (including carbon) to improve cancer cure rates. Advancements in treatment from photon to proton to carbon therapy represent the new way forward in patient care and improving outcomes with far fewer side effects than conventional radiotherapy.
The particle therapy marketplace is projected to reach between $3.5 billion and $6.6 billion by 2030, with 1,200 to 1,800 particle therapy treatment rooms open to patients worldwide, showing an annual growth of 11 percent to 16 percent. However, our research indicates we have far too few proton therapy treatment rooms for current and projected growth. In the U.S., 80 proton therapy treatment rooms are in operation, with projected need estimated at more than 600.
It’s no surprise that many health care organizations are looking to add this highly sophisticated therapy to the radiation matrix. And it is a major decision for any medical center, academic hospital or developer. The time frame for this multi-million dollar investment, from initial planning through first patient treatment, can take five to eight years, or more.
Since working on my first center more than 15 years ago, I have been involved with planning and design of more than 50 proton and particle therapy centers across the globe. Drawing from this experience, I’ve learned that there are three questions that any owner/operator or developer must answer before we can begin to have a meaningful discussion about design, schedule and budget. They include:
• What is your case mix?
• What is your population/catchment area?
• What are your doctors’ preferences?
Simple, but not easy
The first question gets to the heart of the organization mission: Describe your current cancer clinical program. Is it strong or maturing? Is it a niche practice, or a broader treatment spectrum program? What types of tumors will your practice treat: prostate, breast, brain, base of skull, pediatric? And, more precisely, what is the mix of tumor types treated?
Most of the people we meet with are likely already seeing a sizeable number of radiation oncology patients. Indeed, larger centers may see as many as 2,000 to 3,000 cancer patients per year, treating many with conventional X-ray therapy. From this information, we can project the number of potential candidates, already in their care, who could be candidates for proton therapy. Consider that, in 2016, more than 1.6 million people in the U.S. received cancer treatment. And at least 120,000 were good candidates for proton therapy.
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